Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40514561›Full record

ArticleNature microbiology2025

An atypical Arp2/3 complex is required for Plasmodium DNA segregation and malaria transmission.

Franziska Hentzschel, David Jewanski, Yvonne Sokolowski, Pratika Agarwal, Anna Kraeft, Kolja Hildenbrand, Lilian P Dorner, Mirko Singer, Matthias Marti, Friedrich Frischknecht

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Franziska HentzschelWellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. Franziska.hentzschel@med.uni-heidelberg.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9812-0128
David Jewanski *Integrative Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany.
Yvonne Sokolowski *Integrative Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany.
Pratika AgarwalIntegrative Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany.
Anna KraeftIntegrative Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-1174-3655
Kolja HildenbrandIntegrative Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9329-9253
Lilian P DornerIntegrative Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8120-7155
Mirko SingerIntegrative Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5757-2750
Matthias MartiWellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. Matthias.marti@uzh.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1040-9566
Friedrich FrischknechtIntegrative Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8332-6668

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) SFB 1129, project number 240245660Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) SPP 2225Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) SPP 2332Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (German Center for Infection Research) TTU 03.813Royal Society Wolfson Merit awardWellcome TrustWellcome Trust (Wellcome) Wellcome center award 104111Wellcome Trust (Wellcome) WT Investigator award 110166
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Plasmodium parasites, the causative agents of malaria, undergo crucial developments within the mosquito vector, initiated by the formation of male and female gametes. Male gametogenesis involves three rapid rounds of mitosis without nuclear or cell division, followed by a single round of DNA segregation and nuclear division during gamete budding. How the cell organizes the segregation of eight genomes from a single octoploid nucleus into eight haploid gametes is currently unknown. Here we discovered an atypical Arp2/3 complex in Plasmodium important for DNA segregation during male gametogenesis. Unlike the canonical Arp2/3 complex found in other eukaryotes, Plasmodium Arp2/3 localizes to endomitotic spindles and interacts with a kinetochore-associated protein. Disruption of Arp2/3 subunits or actin polymerization interferes with kinetochore-spindle association, causes the formation of subhaploid gametes, and blocks transmission. Our work identified an evolutionary divergent Arp2/3 complex in malaria parasites, provides insights into gametogenesis, and reveals potential targets for transmission-blocking interventions.

Indexed as

Actin-Related Protein 2-3 ComplexChromosome SegregationDNA, ProtozoanMalariaPlasmodiumPlasmodium bergheiProtozoan ProteinsActinsAnimalsFemaleGametogenesisHumansKinetochoresMaleActin-Related Protein 2-3 ComplexActinsDNA, ProtozoanProtozoan Proteins

Identifiers

PMID40514561
PMCPMC12222016

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.